Westfield Area Y's child care facility celebrates 25th anniversary

Pictured here: Children and teachers at the Elm St. Child Care facility join in a 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Westfield Area Yâs Full Day Child Care program.

This school year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Westfield Area Y’s Full Day Child Care program. An anniversary celebration with the children and teachers recently took place at the Y Child Care Center located at 170 Elm St. in Westfield. The children made birthday crowns to wear and celebrated with a special ice cream social in honor of the 25th Anniversary. They also worked on a special quilt for the occasion too.

The Westfield Area Y Full Day Child Care Program opened its doors 25 years ago. It started with 16 children in Room 108 and one full-time teacher and two assistants at the Clark St. facility in 1987 for children ages 2 ½ - 5 years old. The program stayed at the Main Y location until 1991 when it moved to its present Elm St. address.

In 1991, the full day child care and preschool programs were moved to the Elm St. address behind the First Baptist Church. A full day kindergarten program was added as were additional morning and afternoon classes.

Since then, the Westfield Area Y’s Elm St. program has evolved. In 1999, they received their first NAEYC accreditation. In 2000, the Elm St. location was renovated to accept children under 2 ½. In 2002, the Y received a grant from AT&T for the playground and in 2004, the gym was renovated. Through the years, there have been renovations done to include new lighting and security systems and more. Today, they have nine classes, 120 students and all staff do have a minimum CDA certification, 18 full time and six part time staff. The facility is open Monday-Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The children are excited because since then ages 4 and up get to come to the Main Y facility and swim. There are also computers in all the classrooms.

Currently the Westfield Area Y has three child care facilities: Elm St.; the Robert & Virginia Bauer Branch located at 422 East Broad St. in Westfield and their newest location, the Garwood Family Center Y located at 500 East St. in Garwood. The Y staff is very dedicated with most of them teaching at the Y for over 10 years and many for over 20 years.

For more information, contact Karen Thesis at 908-654-8460 or email her at ktheiss@westfieldynj.org. Visit westfieldynj.org to learn more about Westfield Area Y programs. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.